Anesthesia

Description of Procedure

One or two small incisions will be made in the abdominal wall and vagina. A sling will be placed under the urethra and stitched into place. The sling can be made out of a synthetic material or tissue from your own body.

Immediately After Procedure

After surgery, you will be monitored in a recovery room. You will most likely have a catheter in place to drain your urine.

How Long Will It Take?

1-1.5 hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will block pain during the surgery. After surgery, you may experience some pain or soreness. You will be given
pain medication
to relieve the discomfort.

Average Hospital Stay

You may be sent home the same day.

Postoperative Care

At the Hospital

At first, your urine may look bloody. This will resolve over time.

When you are able to empty your bladder completely, the catheter will be removed. You may be asked to get up and walk around.

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection such as:

Washing their hands

Wearing gloves or masks

Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chances of infection such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and healthcare providers to do the same

Reminding your healthcare providers to wear gloves or masks

Not allowing others to touch your incisions

At Home

Certain steps will allow healing to take place. General steps include:

Avoid lifting and strenuous exercise for six weeks after surgery.

Ask your doctor when it will be safe to have sex or use tampons.

To help ensure a smooth recovery, follow your doctor's
instructions.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site

Pain that you cannot control with the medications you have been given

Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

Severe nausea or vomiting

Trouble urinating

Pain, burning, urgency, or frequency of urination

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Urinary
incontinence. American Association of Family Physicians website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence.html. Updated April 2014. Accessed October 28, 2014.